I've never seen any that were that big. 300 pounds max and they have migrated out of the park.
Farther south and even into Texas. The NM Antelope like it out on the Caprock.

04-13-2019 05:57 AM

land_owner

I like my venison jerky. I will turn a deer into jerky faster than lightning and when it comes off the dehydrator all of my liberal co-workers immediately stick their hands out...go figure. Blue becomes Red with venison jerky. They drop their faux pretense of "Bambi" but have all learned that something for nothing is not the conservative way and venison jerky is a "currency" of considerable value that will not be parted with lightly.

04-12-2019 07:12 PM

northwoodneil

I've waited for the time the young bucks at deer camp could fill the tags, drag 'em out, and cut 'em up. I could just be camp cook and give sage advise. I don't see this happening any time soon. I think these young folks watch to many hunting shows, they drag so much gear into the woods they sound like a marching band going in. Spray their cloths with this stuff, shower with that stuff, have a little bottle of talc to see which way the wind blows, grunt calls, heated coats, ect. Now the sage advise I give them- buy a good set of hunting boots, a dependable rifle (45-70) and sit down and shut up till your froze to death, then get up and walk slowly in "buck" country. Every year I make them venison care packages out of the 2 I kill so they can taste what they're hunting for. I don't feel the need to kill another buck but I like venison so until someone kills them for me I hunt. I will be at deer camp one way or the other so long as ground is under me not over me.

Yes, for a bit. I was out in the woods, a nice buck came out into the field; I scoped him and I just couldn't do it. It took about three years for me to get back out there, after I took the shot, I sat there for a bit to get myself together. Fireworks didn't get to me, I guess I was so acclimated to stuff blowing up. Well, I did have one issue once, but I had just come home the day before (3 July) from SERE school and the Star Spangled Banner with fireworks got to me, I was sitting there in the dark with tears in my eyes.

Fireworks don't startle me or get me up tight; I guess boring is the correct word.

Keep on, keeping on..time will help. Meanwhile, thank you for your service !

You spoke of your last deployment.. Has your time in a combat zone changed how you look at hunting ?

For myself for instance...folks don't seem to understand why I won't even step outside to watch fireworks..

Yes, for a bit. I was out in the woods, a nice buck came out into the field; I scoped him and I just couldn't do it. It took about three years for me to get back out there, after I took the shot, I sat there for a bit to get myself together. Fireworks didn't get to me, I guess I was so acclimated to stuff blowing up. Well, I did have one issue once, but I had just come home the day before (3 July) from SERE school and the Star Spangled Banner with fireworks got to me, I was sitting there in the dark with tears in my eyes.

04-12-2019 10:15 AM

pastorp

If your talking about African antelope at white sands and the Floridaís then I havenít hunted them. I hunted American antelope they range all over the western planes states. And are native to NM too.

04-12-2019 09:44 AM

Argent11

They are smart enough to keep thier distance. So they are long range targets. One trick is you check out how they migrate around. Get some camo and bed down in a low spot and wait for them. Or do that near a cattle pond when the cattle aren't around. Some ranchers gather up their herds during the season.

David, I liked antelope meat when I was living in NM. Of course I liked elk and mule deer too. I even like height mountain black bear meat that has not been eating out of garbage cans. And I agree with you that usually mule deer is not as tasty as antelope meat.

A few years back the Antelope herds grew so large that the State wildlife and the Ranchers wanted hunters
to hunt them. They are not indigenous to NM, and were brought in a few decades ago from Africa.
One problem with them is that they are able to jump over fences and cattle guards then they end up on
the roads.

I gave up hunting for a few years after my last deployment, I'd gone hunting one day and just didn't have it in me to pull the trigger. But then, just like that I decided that hunting was not the same thing, and I just needed to get back out in the woods. My first deer, I gave it thanks and proceeded to process it, been hunting every year since. I don't hunt antlers, I usually take one doe for me, and one or two for guys that don't hunt but enjoy venison. I'll take a buck of course, but I'm not disappointed with a spike or better; if it's for me, I like them medium size, if it's for the guys, the bigger the better to make it worth the processing fee. I've always looked at hunting as a way to get venison, when I was younger, I'd hunt them hard and fill my 5 tags almost every year, now, I hunt comfortably in my permanent stand, if I harvest one, great, if not, I still enjoy the peace and quiet.

You spoke of your last deployment.. Has your time in a combat zone changed how you look at hunting ?

For myself for instance...folks don't seem to understand why I won't even step outside to watch fireworks..

04-12-2019 07:26 AM

gpa&hisguns

My favorite hunt these days is going back to my roots. I have a little one room 16ft by 10ft hunting cabin sitting in the midst of my timber. It has a small wood stove, a couple of lanterns and a cot. Some Fridays in the fall and early winter I grab my stuff and my dog and head for the cabin. As every day for 20 years I am wide awake by 5:30 AM. I make some coffee eat a couple granola bars and watch the woods come to life. I spend my day squirrel hunting with my little Remington 514 single shot that I have had since I was a boy. I might even lay down and take a nap in the woods if I find a sunny spot and the notion hits me. Roy is content to sit next to me with his his head on a swivel looking for squirrels. He knows the game well and is getting better at it all the time. Come dusk I build a fire, cook squirrel on a stick, shake a little salt on it and chow down. We sit by the fire staring into it until we get tired and then put the fire out and head home for a shower and my good bed. I used to be able to take a whole weeks vacation and do that but these days it's a day at a time. That cot isn't as user friendly as it use to be!

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